Archive · 20 Jul 2026
Researchers Map Influenza A Virus Hijacking Human Cells
Scientists have made a big discovery about how the flu virus, called influenza A, takes over our cells.
They used special tools to watch how the virus and our cells interact.
The virus tricks our cells into helping it grow and spread.
One surprising thing they found is that the virus makes tiny parts inside our cell's nucleus disappear, which might help the virus and weaken our cell's defenses.
This research could help make better flu medicines and vaccines in the future.
The scientists think their methods could also be used to study other viruses.
Researchers mapped how influenza A virus hijacks human cells using cross-linking mass spectrometry and AlphaFold.
The study identified two major ways the virus takes control: modifying haemagglutinin and dissolving paraspeckles.
Paraspeckles, small compartments in the cell nucleus, dissolve upon infection, releasing proteins the virus uses to replicate.
The research provides structural insights that could support the development of improved flu drugs and vaccines.
The approach could be applied to study other viruses, including potential pandemic strains like H5N1.
- Who
- Researchers from EMBL Hamburg, FMP, Charite - Universitatsmedizin Berlin, and collaborators
- What
- Mapped how influenza A virus hijacks and rewires human cells
- When
- Study published in Nature Microbiology (specific date not mentioned)
- Where
- Research conducted across multiple institutions in Germany
- Why
- To understand virus-host interactions for potential drug and vaccine development
- Research Institutions Involved
- EMBL Hamburg, Leibniz Research Institute for Molecular Pharmacology (FMP), Charite - Universitatsmedizin Berlin, and other collaborators
- Method Used
- Cross-linking mass spectrometry (XL-MS) and modified AlphaFold
- Key Findings
- Influenza A virus hijacks host cells by modifying haemagglutinin and dissolving paraspeckles
- Potential Impact
- Could support development of improved flu drugs and vaccines
- Study Publication
- Nature Microbiology
- Lead Researchers
- Jan Kosinski, Boris Bogdanow, Iuliia Kotova